Keith Murray proved that last week's victory was no fluke when he ended the 2001/02 league with a second win at the Stockton Wheelers Cyclo-Cross at Hetton Lyons Park on Sunday.

Murray finished just over three minutes in front of Kenny Johnson, the unattached rider from Hartlepool who, starting late in the season, was resigned to the Inter League despite a series of top-10 finishes.

The minor positions saw frantic activity as Cliff Featherstone fought off a race-long challenge by Neil Withington, who was anxious to hang on to his second place in the Premier League.

Although third-placed Andy Oliver was a non-starter, Ferryhill Wheeler James Anderson and former series leader Paul Cook could have pushed Withington down a place.

Finding his feet in the senior ranks in his first year, Anderson's team-mate Chris Chester led the field away from the start, which also included the reigning Women's League winner Lorraine Sharp and runner-up Nikki Willis.

The pair already had their respective positions wrapped up and they were persuaded to start in the men's race in order to give them the competition they needed. Sharp, although tiring towards the end of the longer race, came in a creditable 34th in the 40-plus field.

Murray took over halfway round the first of 10 laps as the scramble to get his wheel started with Johnson surging ahead from the group.

Johnson led a trio of riders through 10 seconds behind Murray at the end of the first loop as Chester hung with Anderson.

A lap later, though, and it was a different story as the Ferryhill pair were overtaken by Withington and Featherstone as Paul Stubbs (CycleForce 2000) latched on.

The gap to Murray, however, had risen another 10 seconds and it was obvious that the chasers were riding at a pace above themselves as the sometime time-trialist pounded out a regular time of 5-10 per lap, give or take two seconds.

By lap four, despite Johnson's best efforts, he was now a full minute down and was dragging Withington and Featherstone around.

Not for long, though, and before the end of the fifth, Johnson lost his company as he sprinted up the severe run-up at the back of the course.

It was too late to do anything about Murray, who by now was 1-18 ahead and showing little sign of tiring.

Johnson did manage to keep Murray's lead within respectable limits, a feat in itself given the effort the big man ahead was putting in.

Murray continued to stretch his lead by 30 seconds a lap over the last two although the fast, Continental-style course did spare many the fate of being lapped. * Philip Slater scored his ninth win of the season to claim the Youth League title. He finished ahead of the Under 14 rider who had battled with him most of the season, Jamie Sharp. * The NECCA Presentation Evening will be at Bowburn Hall on Tuesday, March 19, at 7pm. Tickets at &#xA3;11 (children &#xA3;6) are available from Jim Sunley, 23 Moor Crescent, Gilesgate Moor, Durham DH1 1PB Tel (0191-386 5702). * Tyne Velo hold a used and unused cycle gear auction on Friday at Blaydon Rugby Club. Contact Jim Howie (0191-253 7028). * The first event of the new road season in two weeks time is the Neil White Memorial Pursuit. Categories are E/1/2/3/4/W/V/J and entries at &#xA3;8.70 should go to Roy Metcalfe, Ashgarth, Newton Bewley, Billingham, Cleveland TS22 5PQ. * This weekend sees the closing date for the Sunderland Clarion Spring Circuit races at Hetton Lyons. Two events, for 4/W/J and 1/2/3/V are being held. Entries at &#xA3;8.70 to go to Colin Watson, 18 Gleneagles Road, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 6JS (Tel: 0191-491 5904).